Process and apparatus for the conversion of heavy hydrocarbons into lighter hydrocarbons.



F. LAMPLOUGH.

PROCESS. AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONVERSION OF HEAVY HYDROCARBONS INTOLIGHTER HYDROCARBONS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-16,19I2.

1,229,@98 Patented June 5,1917.

7. SHEETS-SHEET I.

m-M1, w W

db rncgs.

mzam za a F. LAMPLOUGH. PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONVERSION OFHEAVY HYDROCARBONS INTO LIGHTER HYDROCARBONS. APPLICATION FILEDDEC-16.19l2.

1,229,098 Patented June 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. ..i [it L S (A N B is same as? amen.

FREDERICK LAMPLOUGH, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

PROCESS AND APPA'LUS FOR THE CONVERSION OF HEAVYHYDROCARBONS INTOLIGHTER HYDEOGARBONS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patmnteqfl J 111111113 5, 191'? IApplication filed December 16, 1912. Serial No. 737,069.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK LAMrLoUGH, a subject of the King ofEngland, residing at London, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for the Conversion ofHeavy .Hydrocarbons into Lighter Hydrocarbons,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in bringing heavy hydrocarbon oils, or othervapors, together with moisture or steam, into contact with each other inthe presence of nickel in compact form, in a retort, said retort beingmaintained at a temperature of about a dull red heat, pressure beingapplied either derived from an external source or generated by the gaspressure of the process.

I have found that nickel has the valuable property of facilitating theconversion of fuel and lubricating oils or paraflins into lighter bodiesof the paraifin series, a. 6. those in which the proportion of hydrogencentage of hydrogen increases. Various at-' tempts, more or lesssuccessful, have been made to bring about a union between theconstituents, steam and various of the heavier hydrocarbons of theparaffin series.

These compounds are formed under heat and pressure when water and thevapors of these oils are brought together under heat and pressure.

It has been found that the reaction between the two gases, that is vaporof water and vapor of oil, is much augmented in the presence of varioussubstances to which a catalytic action has often been ascribed underthese circumstances. These substances are sometimes burned brick orclay, and sometimes various metals. Just what the effect of thesesubstances on the vapors present is, has not yet been definitelyascertained, but for the sake of consistency and uniformity, in thisspecification, it will be regarded as catalytic.

One of the usual catalysts, as stated, is burned clay or aluminumsilicate. The vaporsof the two substances spread out and mingle throughthe whole porous mass of the burned brick, and are thus brought intointimate physical contact possibly by adhesion to the surface of theclay, and the desired reaction takes place thus. The baked clay materialis slow, however, and is open to several objections, the principal oneof which is that the clay is apt to become clogged by a deposition oftarry masses which can be removed with only the great only is thisobjectionable, but the iron in rusting expands and has a tendency toburst any container in which it may be placed.

Nickel hag also been suggested in the shape 4 of powder or fineparticles. Nickel in this condition is, however, open to the sameobjection as clay inasmuch as it is apt to become charged with particlesof tarry or carbonaceous matter which can be removed only with greatdifficulty.

Moreover, the

gases'pass only very slowly through a mass of finely divided. particles.

Nickel, though closely v related to iron chemically, is not afi'ected bysteam and preserves, its surface bright during all the conditionsincident to the "operation of my process, and is therefore effective.

I have discovered that if the nickel used in carrying out this processbe arranged in compact extended form so as to afford channels orpassages continuously of nickel through which the vapors may sweep withconsiderable velocity, the deposition of carbon is avoided and thesurfaces of the nickel kept clean and bright, and always chemicallyactive. v r

The nickel is arranged in solid form as distinguished from pulverized"or comminuted form. That is, it is in lumps or nodules as distinguishedfrom granules or powder. These lumps, which are solid, as I have stated,may have only a surface of nickel; that is, they may have a base of someother metal or substances nickel coated. It is obvious that the surfaceonly has a catalytic effect. These masses or lumps of solid nickelshould be so openly arranged that the current of gas and steam may sweepthrough them at considerable velocity. By

this means the surfaces of the nickel are kept 'clean and bright, andany deposit of carbon is swept on through the mass of nickel and droppedelsewhere.

My invention therefore consists in, among other things, the use ofnickel in compact j masses, in relation to which openings are providedfor the uninterrupted passage of feed of the two materials in properproportion to each other.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1. shows in elevation and partsection a plant suitable for carrying out the process.

Fig. 2 shows a plan of the same plant; and

Fig. 3 is a section of a detail.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

. Superimposed pumps A and B are interconnected by gear wheels A B andreceive motion from a motor C. The pump A draws crude oil'from a tank Aand the pump B draws water from a tank B The oil and water are deliveredby conduits A B respectively, to a junction-piece D 'which is connectedwith a tubular retort D; Below j the retort is a burner E for heatinght,which is supplied with crude oil from a pressure tank E The oil ispumped from the tank by a plunger-pump E operated by a variable throwdevice E? on the wheel B of'the pump B. A hand-pump E is employed forputting pressure upon the tankE to aid the pump E in lifting the; oiltherefrom.

The retortD contains a number of tubes D through which the. oil andwater flows, and thesetubes contain nickel bodies which may be inthe'form of-roos, or balls,.or be otherwise shaped as found convenient.

In Fig. 3 the bottom portion ofone of the tubes is shown injsection, buton a scale larger than in Fig. 1, and nickel rods D are shown within thesame; these may be merely dropped inloose. I

The oil and water leave the retort tubes in the form of permanent gasand vapors and pass thence to a cooling coil F where the vapors arecondensed into water, oil and spirit which may be afterward separatedand rectified.

It will be appreciated that the pumps A and B, if once set tooperate-atany ratio one to the other, will always feed the oil and water to theretort in the same proportions, even though the speed of the motor 0 mayvary, and by means of the variable throw device E the pump E can beadjusted so that the burners will maintain. the retort tubes D at therequisite temperature. The temperature of these tubes may be ascertainedby looking through an inspection opening, or by a pyrometer G connectedelectrically to an indicator G The conversion may be carried on underpressure, and such pressure may be considerable, as pressure tends toreduce the amount of any volatile spirit carried away .7 by thepermanent gases. The pressure may be regulated by -obstructingthe escapeof gas from the coil F by any suitable means, such as a relief valveplaced at any desired point in the circuit. The permanent gas may beused to supply heat for any of the, operations. a

If the process is carried out at the proper speed with properproportions and temperature, all of which can be easily judged by alittle practice, there will be very little hydrocarbon found to beunconverted after passing through the retort, but such as is unconvertedcan be .re-treated.

As intimated, the efiect of the metal which I employ appears to be thatof a catalyst, but it may not be such, however, and I do not wish to bebound by any theory of catalytic action in the present relation.

The proportioning of the quantities of the material treated and theregulation of the temperature and pressure, are all agents which must becarefully looked after in carrying out my process.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for converting heavy hydrocarbon oils into lighter oils,the combination of a retort, tubes containing bodies of nickel incompact extended form with continuous channels therethrough in suchretort, a pump for forcing a heavy hydrocarbon oil at speed through saidretort, a pump for forcing water at speed through said retort,

means for heatingthe retort and, the water and oil sent therein, to atemperature indicated by a dull red heat, and means for subsequentlycondensing the hydrocarbon vapors produced by the catalytic effect ofthe nickel surfaces.

2. In apparatus for converting heavy hydro'carbon oils into lighteroils, the combination of a retort, bodies of nickel each in compact formand having passages therethrough in said retort, a pump for forcing aheavy hydrocarbon oilthrough said retort, a pump for forcing waterthrough said retort, driving means for said pumps, means forautomatically maintaining the delivery of one pump in constantproportion to the delivery of the other at all speeds, a liquidfuelburner for heating the retort, a third pump for delivering liquid fuelto the burner, adjustable means for driving this pump from the samedriving means whereby the other two pumps are driven so that the fuelpump may be regulated to deliver the requisite proportion of'fuel tomaintain the proper supply of heat for the delivery of the other twopumps, and a condenser in circuit with the retort.

3. The process of converting the heavier constituents of petroleum intolighter constituents, which consists in passing said heavierconstituents in the state of vapor together with steam, under pressureand at a temperature indicated at a low red heat over and in contactwith nickel in compact ex.- tended form.

4:. A process for converting the heavier hydro-carbons of petroleum intolighter hydro-carbons, which consists in passing said heavierhydro-carbons in a state of vapor together with steam, under pressure,and at a temperature indicated by a low red heat, at

speed, over and in contact with bodies composed of nickel in compactextended form.

5. The herein described process for converting heavy hydrocarbon oilsinto light oils which consists in maintaining in a retort at a red heat,bodies consisting of solid nickel, and passing such heavy oils and anaqueous substance through said retort whereby said oils and aqueoussubstance are brought into intimate contact with the heated bodiescomposed of nickel in solid extended form aforesaid and therebyconverted I into lighter oils.

6. A process of producing hydrocarbon liquids of relatively low boilingpoints from hydrocarbonliquids of higher boiling points, which comprisespassing the vapors of such hydrocarbon of higher boiling points,together with steam under a pressure materially above atmospheric, intocontact with a mass of relatively small pieces of metallic nickelmaintained at a temperature approaching 600 (1., and thereaftercondensing the resultingvapors.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK LAMPLOUGH.

Witnesses:

O. J. WORTH, TRACY LAY.

